Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 44: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of schools running breakfast clubs; her views on whether such clubs have a valuable role to play in assisting students and supporting children from disadvantaged areas; her further views on their full roll-out in disadvantaged schools and the actions her Department proposes to take to achieve this in conjunction with the other stakeholders and relevant Departments. [40588/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The majority of the 412 schools participating in the school completion programme in 2006 operate breakfast clubs or other meal provision, in accordance with the nutritional guidelines issued by the Department of Social and Family Affairs. In addition to the funding provided through the school completion programme, the provision of school meals is primarily funded by the school meals programme, administered by my colleague, the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, and involving both an urban scheme operated by local authorities and a local projects scheme.

Educational research has shown that good nutrition improves concentration levels of students and that students from low income families are less likely to have access to an adequate diet. The social aspect of breakfast clubs cannot be overestimated and access to such clubs is offered on a whole class-whole school basis to encourage integration of children and young people, giving them an opportunity to mix and relax before classes commence.

Breakfast clubs provide a caring and supportive environment where young people can engage with their peers and discuss things in a social setting. This also provides an opportunity to prepare for the school day. Parents are also encouraged to become involved in running breakfast clubs, many of which are also supported by charitable agencies which bring with them expertise such as family support.

The school meals programme aims to supplement the nutritional intake of pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds in order to allow them to fulfil their potential within the educational system and also to reduce the risk of early school leaving. In 2006, it is estimated that 69,903 children benefited in 1,008 schools under the local projects scheme and the urban scheme provided support for more than 386 primary schools, with 55,000 pupils. In 2006, the Department of Social and Family Affairs has provided funding of approximately €10.4 million for the programme, an increase of almost 27% on the 2005 provision of €8.2 million.

The Department of Education and Science has been working in close co-operation with the Department of Social and Family Affairs to ensure that the resources available for school meals are used to best effect and to further expand school meals provision in schools serving disadvantaged communities. Each of the 873 schools participating in the new school support programme under DEIS, the new action plan for educational inclusion, will have access to the school meals programme.

In addition, it is proposed that under the dormant accounts fund a once-off start-up grant will be provided to schools commencing participation in the school meals scheme to provide suitable facilities and purchase equipment. The provision of breakfast clubs will continue to be a priority for the Government in tackling educational disadvantage.

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Minister for her reply. We all favour the concept of the breakfast club. Most people to whom I have spoken about it believe it is a good idea. The frustration in many areas surrounds funding, roll-out and the quality of the clubs. Some people believe calling them breakfast clubs is a probably a bad idea and that if they were called Internet clubs and if music was played, it would encourage more students to come into school for the meal.

The Minister mentioned the number of schools involved. Will these clubs be rolled out in all schools in CLÁR and RAPID areas, or is it up to schools or the school completion programme in an area to determine in which schools they are rolled out? I have also been given information on some schools where there are breakfast clubs for two days a week rather than five. Has the Minister a view on that and the confusion it causes children? If we are to have these clubs, they should run over a five day period.

The Minister spoke about nutritional issues. Will the Department get more involved in these clubs in the future given the concerns in this area? In regard to the funding of these clubs, community education, etc, is funding available from the Minister's Department or any other Department for groups outside the schools system, such as those dealing with young people at risk of dropping out of school?

It is important these clubs are warm, interactive and welcoming and have a calming influence on children. As I said, everyone on this side of the House agrees with them. A club which is grim, bleak and cold will not attract young people. The clubs are a positive step for young people.

I am concerned about the roll-out of these clubs and the co-ordination between the Departments. Are there any plans in regard to future school buildings? Will kitchens be provided so that there is the possibility of hot meals? Some schools are talking about not only breakfast clubs but about lunchtime clubs to encourage young people to stay in school.

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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We do not mind what schools call these clubs. They can call them Internet clubs or whatever. If the meal is being provided, any positive way to get children into the clubs is all right with us and, I am sure, with the Department of Social and Family Affairs once the money is used properly. As the Deputy said, there are schools which offer lunch, or a dinner, as well as breakfast. Last week, I was in a school in Athy where every child gets a healthy break — a healthy milk drink or some variation of it, such as a yogurt. While I was there, the young girls were having shepherd's pie, which was beautifully laid out. I could get a waft of the beautiful shepherd's pie.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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The perks of the job.

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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They did not offer me any. What I thought was a lovely idea was that they insist the girls sit down at properly set tables. They are not allowed to have books, games or anything with them so they must engage in conversation. They are learning basic table manners while at the same time communicating with each other rather than sitting in front of the television or a Game Boy with food on their laps.

I have seen inner city schools where parents come in very early in the morning to organise the breakfast for the breakfast club and then healthy sandwiches and rolls for the children. The programme is being implemented in different ways. Schools are able to decide how to implement it given their facilities, needs and the voluntary activity of some parents or whatever staff are available. We are very anxious all the schools in DEIS are able to benefit from it. At present, approximately 474 schools in DEIS are not involved. They are being written to on a phased mailshot basis, inviting them to apply to participate so that we can roll it out in an organised way. All the schools will be invited to participate.

Not all the breakfast clubs take place in the school. Under the local projects scheme, some of them take place in a community hall or some other local facility. Again, that links into the community and organisations working with families. It is a good and integrated way to do it. I am not sure Jamie Oliver's way of doing it in the UK school meals system worked. Certainly, the idea of healthy, nutritious food is important for children.

The last thing we want is to set up big structures with environmental health officers, etc, coming in and the whole thing getting out of control. What is happening now is a really positive and valuable way to support children and their families.